Automatic receptacle-filling machine



L. H. HARTMAN. AUTOMATIC RECEPTACLEvFILLING MACHINE. APPLICATION FILED ocr. Is. |919.

L. H. HAMMAM. AUTOMATIC RECEPTACLE FILLING MACHINE.

APPLICM'ION FILED OCT. I6, 1919.

Patented Dec. 27, 1921.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

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.L. H. HARTMAN. AUTOMATIC HECEPTACLE FILLING MACHINE. APPLlcATloN FILED ocT.1s. 1919.

1,401,401.l Patented Deu. 27, 1921.

3 SHEETS--SHEET 3.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

LOUIS H. HABTMAN, TOLEDO, OHIO, ASSIGNOR TO THE VALVE BAG- COMPANY, OF TOLEDO, OHIO, A CORPORATION OF OHIO.

AUTOMATIC RECEPTACLE-FILLING MACHINE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Dec. 27, 1921.

Application filed October 16, 1919. Serial No. 331,070.

To all whom t may conce/m:

Be it known that I, LoUIs H. HARTMAN, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Toledo, in the county of Lucas and State of Ohio, have invented a certain new and useful Automatic Receptacle-Filling Machine; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact de scription of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings. and to the characters of reference marked thereon, which form ay part of this specification.

My invention has for its object to provide a .machine for filling cartons or containers with a pulverized or finely divided material, such as lime. It I )articularly relates to a machine for filling a plurality of Vpaper boxes at the same time. It also has for its object to provide in such a. machine a means for accurately controlling the amount ot the material thatis directed into each of the boxes. lt also has for its object to combine in such a machine simplicity of operation and construction with durability and efliciency.

The invention and its parts may be con tained in filling machines of different forms. .F or purposes of illustration and description l have selected one of such machines containing the invention and shall describe it hereinafter. The machine selected is illustrated in the accompanying drawings.

Figure 1 of the drawings is a front view ol' the machine. Fig. 2 is an end view of part 'of the machine. Fig. 3 is a sectional view of a part of the machine, taken on the line 3-3 indicated `in Fig. 1. Fig. f1 is an enlarged end View of part of the machine, one of the main drive gears being shown removed for purposes of illustration and to Inore clearly show parts of the mechanism. Fig. 5 is an end view of the delivering table shown in Fig. 1. Fig. 6 illustrates tappers for shaking down the materiahalso shown in Fig. 3. Fig. 7 is a top. view of the receiving table. Fig. 8 illustrates a part of a chain and a dog connected to or forming one of the links of the chain for `sequentially operating parts oi' the mechanism. Fig. 9 illustrates a carriage for manipulating the paper boxes or cartons. Fig. 1.0 is a rear broken view showing the upper cut-off mechanism and parts connected therewith. Fig. 11 illus tratesmeans for operating the lowerl cutoil mechanism. Fig. 12 illustrates one of the cut-off plates. Y

1, Fig. 1, is a hopper which directs the material from a suitable bin to the inachiiiie. The hopper .is supported by the structure ot the ceiling in any suitable way. The means; for directing the material to the containers is attached to the lower end uit the hopper by means of the bolts 2 andthus the said means is supported in its proper position.

The lower end o1|` the hopper is closed, by the casing 3 in which ,is located a. rotatable member Z1.-, shown in Fig. tor allowinie.- the material contained in the hopper 1 to pass to tubular members for directing the ma terial to the containers. The rotatable member 41 is connected to the shalt 5 on which is located the drive wheel G. The shaft 5 is supported in bearings 7 located on opposite cnds of the casing The casing 3 is closed by a plate 8 haring knobs 9 located ou the ends cit the brackets 120 attached to the forward corners oi: the plate which are operated on by the lugs .10 to shift the plato and open the lower end of the casing 3. The lugs 10 are supported on the gear wheels .11 and thus the knobs 9 are engaged by the luggijs l() during each consecutive rotation of the gear wheels l1. The gear wheels 11 are driven by the wheel 6 through the gear wheels 1Q. '13, 14 and 15, the gear wheel. 1Q being located on the shaft 5 and the gear wheel 1lbeinglocated on the same shaft on which the gear wheelv 13 is located and the gear wheel being?.` an idler between the wheels 14e and 11. The shaft 1G on which the gear wheels 13 and 14 are located are supported in the bracket l'which is attached to depending rods con nefrted to the plate 18 which is bolted to the lower side olf the casing il. T he gear whit-.els 11 are connected. together by the shaiit 19 which is supported by means ot brackets 2() on the casing The opposite end of the machine is provided with a second gear wheel 141 which cooperates to shift the plate 8, as hereinafter des ribed. The second idler gear l5 also intei'connects the gears 11 and 14: at the other end ot the machine. The idlers 15 are connected. together by the shalt 21 which is supported on brackets 22. By this arrangement lthe gear wheels 11, -14 and 15, located at opposite ends ol? the machine, operate together to perform their several functions.

The gear wheels lll operate Y casing 3 by operating` on the plate 8. la pair of lugs 23 are connected to th plate 8 any suitable inea-ns, such as tarou'li tlie .D brackets 24% adgustably secured to rods nel 26. The rods are seruied the bracktront edge ot the plate. i

the lugs 23 which are located at the re.

A plurality ot telesc ping; cylinders 29 having the telescopinp,` parts 8O anc.. l are located beneath the plate 8. The plate l8,

which Aferais the lower enf is provided with a pluraliy of rllhe parts 3() ott the telescoi ing are connected to the plate lil so as to Vieg'ister with the openings 3f?. s. a l arts 3l oit the cylinders are connected to a `oair ot adjustable plates 33 and The parts are coin nected to tie plate 33, and the plate 33 at its ends is bolted to the plate T he plate and consequently the plate nd the parts 8l are supported on the dependingv rods 85 which are connected to the plate 1S. rlhe rods threaded at their lower ends and adjusting nuts are located at opposite sides oi ears or bosses that are formed on the plate 34 wheiebjiv the parts 3l ot the telescop'ag tubes may be adjusted relative to the parts and thus the roluine ot the interior of the telesoping tubes 29 inap' be varied a d adjusted accordiiia' to the anion it oi the n'iaterial to be delire "ed to each ot the containers that are plated beneath the telesemainel tubes. The plate S is providet with openings 32 which, when pulled 1" ward hj: the operation of the lugs l0 located on the of the easing` o. openings 37. cylinders 29 gear wheels ll. will register with the open` ii s 32 and the telescopingi eyl nders urine' this period the inrgiterial 1passes troni j k il e casus' 3 into the telescopina; uuhes however, the lugs ..8 strike the lugs 2s tne plate 8 is drawn rearward so as to close "he upper ends or. the cylinders ,29.

lower ends o the cylinders opened closed bf,7 means of a plate 3S weich is provided with openings 39 t iat r with openings it iined in the lates 3S and ill and consequently with the lower ends ot the cylinders when the plate 38 is drawn forward. rlfhe plate 3S slides between the plates 38 and Bland is operated by means or" a bell crank .lever i t0 which is provided with rollers tl that are operated. on by a cani bracket l2 located on the gear wheel t3. rllhe eain bracket operates on one ot' the rollers il 'x l1 a nlfit' 8 v x el ont' i A rl to puri it l, a iii oiieeirection ani. upon the other roller el to move the plate in the opposite direction. The le ...er 40 is oonnected to the shatt 4S that is supported in b .l-ots -lf-- located on two ot the depending rods 35. The shaft t3 is connected to a pair ot arms that are connected to the plate 3S. The plate is shifted so as to open the lower ends of the eVlinders f2! by the operation ot the lower roller il whereby7 the lower roller 4l is moved outward troni the axis of tl e Qear wheel 13 by the operation of the rachet 4t2, while the lower ends of the "liiieeis ,29 are closed by the cain bracket i operating on the upper roller A tl which pushes lie lower ends ot the arnis Al5 toward the cyll iders. lalhen the plate 38 closes thr lower ends el' the cylinders the plate 8 is opened and the cylinders are filled with the nial'rial ted through the easing' ffl. The arins 4&5 are toi'iiied oit telescoping parts for purposes ot' adjustment ot their length so as to permit an adjustment of the cylinders 29 liid consequently control the ainounts olV ratorial 'fed to the cylinoers and at the saine -otides for the chantre iii the distance e plate 8 is n'lored bank and forth beneath e cylinders. Duriuo the time that the material is beine iced to the cylinders. that isy during: the lill i of the cylinders. the cylinders are tapped 31V suitalgvle tappeis so as to jar the cylinders and shake down the material. This prer its stielziufr ot the material against tlnx e walls ol the cylinders, Also dui-iii;Y the )tying oi the cylinders the 'farmers shake r tno cylinders so as to cause the deliveij" oit all olf the material that is caught betireen the plates 8 and 38 and thus cause the complete einptaiiig ol the cylinders while the plate S is elosefl. The tappei's lG are supported ou a shaft t7 that is supported n lnacliets (lpposite ends ot the shalt are provided with fingers Alf) that are pera'ed upon by lie ratchet wheels .'50 iifeh are connected to the gear wheels '15. eration et the @jaar wheels l?? causes the Vers to be raised from the cylinders.

AA, n

ds il to the sliatt -l to pull the tappare st the cylinders 29. The springs Vi? o connected to brackets 5? which are coniuntod to the plaie lll, The cylinders lll are thus Iiai-red during); the operation ot the machine and thus the material is settled in the cylinders while they are beine filled and delivered to the containers when the lower ends ot the cylinders are opened.

Mouth pieces that forni outlets ol tlni cilinders may be bolted to the plate 3l. The outside surfaces ot the mouth pieces 54; are conical in forni and consequenthY ma); be readily inserted in the tops ot the containers or in openings contained in the tops of the containers. The outlets of the cylinders are particularly adapted tor .trillingl lflfi lllll cartons or paper boxes with lime and the cartons or paper boxes are raised so that the mouth pieces 54 may be inserted in openings in the cartons. The coneshaped surfaces center the round openings formed in the top of the cartons when the cartons are raised so as to press against the cone surfaces.

The cartons or paper boxes are placed on a table top or a plate located beneath the cylinders. In the form of the invention s own a number of cartons corresponding to the number of the cylinders are shifted beneath the cylinders. The table, which may be formed of one or more parts, is pro vided with guiding flanges 55 and 56. The containers are placed against one of the flanges 55 by the operator and over the slot 57 formed in a part of-the table top. A reciprocating member 58 engages the car i tons that are thus placed on the table top 59 and moves along the table top to push the cartons underneath the row of cylinders 29.

The reciprocating member 58 is an upwardly extending T-shaped finger that is spring pressed rearwardly, that is, away from the containers, and against a suitable stop, such as a pin 60. The finger 58 and the pin 6() are supported on a carriage 61. The carriage 61 is provided with four guide rollers 62 which are located between rods 68 that form tracks over which the rollers will run to guide the reciprocatory movements of the carriage 61 and member 58. The carriage 61 is also provided with pins 64 that extend in the path of movement of the dog 65 which is connected to or forms one of the links in a chain 66 that moves over the sprocket wheels 67. The parts of the chain 66 between the sprocket wheels 67 are located in parallel relation and in proximity to thc rods 63 over which the rollers 62 run and consequently the dog 65 engages the pins 64 alternately to move the carriage toward and away from the cylinders 29. When the upper pin 64 is engaged by the dog 65 the finger 58 is moved toward the cylinders 29 and while the finger 58 extends above the table top 59. But on the return movement of the carriage 61 the reciproca tory member 58 passes beneath the table top in order to prevent interference with the placing of the cartons, that are to be subsequently pushed beneath the cylinders 29, on the table.

The slot 57 terminates at its ends in enlarged openings 68 which permits movements of the upper end of the finger 58 through the table top. When the finger 58 enters the enlarged opening 68 at the end of the slot 57 near the telescoping tubes the latch 69 is pushed to one side and subseuently, by the operation of the spring 70, gloses behind the finger 58. Upon the return movement of thecarriage 61 the finger 58 is pushed forward, that is, toward the cylinders 29 and turned downward beneath the table top as the carriage returns. The top of the finger 58 prevents the return of the finger through the slot 57 until the finger reaches the other enlarged opening 68 whereupon the spring 7() raises the finger 58 against the stop 60 and thus places the finger 58 in position to engage the cartons that may be placed against one of the flanges 55 and which are to be pushed forward at the proper time to be filled. A box 71 covers the opening 68 where the finger 58 rises above the table top. This is to prevent interference of the finger 58 with a car* ton that might otherwise be accidentally placed over the said opening 68. If de sired, a guiding flange 72 may be placed in front of the box 71. This permits a large number of boxes to be picked up by the operator and placed on the table top, the machine being timed to shift the boxes while the cylinders 29 are being filled., the return of the carriage 61 being during the time that the boxes are being filled.

The movement of the reciprocatory member 58 that shifts the boxes is timed with the movements of the plates 8 and 38 by the connection that is established between the mechanism supported on the lower end of the hopper and the mechanism supported beneath the table. These mechanisms are connected together by means of the sprocket chain 73 which passes over the sprocket wheels 74, one located on the shaft 5 and the other located on the shaft 75. The sprocket chain 73 also passes over the cor-A ner of the table top 59 and contact with the table top is prevented by means of the roller 76 which is secured in suitable brackets to the table top. The shaft is supported in suitable bearings located in brackets 77 secured to the table. bevel gear 78 is connected to the shaft 75 and operates upon the bevel gear 79 which is connected to the shaft 80. One of the sprocket wheels 67 is also connected to the shaft 80 and thus the sprocket chain 66 is driven through the operation of the sprocket wheels 74. The other sprocket Wheel 67 is connected to a shaft 81 which is also supported in bearings 82 located on the table. Thus connection and relation is established between the operations of the mechanism of the table and the mechanism that controls the movement of the material into and out of the cylinders 29.

When the containers or boxes are. placed on the table beneath the cylinders 29 they are raised toward the cylinders 29 so as to press the edges of the openings ofV the boxes against the cone surfaces of the mouth pieces 54 that form the outlets of the cylinders 29. The part 83 of the table top is connected to legs 84e that sliding-ly move in brackets 85 that are connected to other parts of the table. The ends of the legs 811 also move in sockets 86'located on the ioor. rlhe sockets 86 are provided wit-i1 pet-cocks 8T that regulate the return or lowering movement of the table top 83. The lower ends of the legs 81 and the sockets 86 cushion the downward movement of the part of the table and prevent any undue jarring by reason of the downward movement of the table. The part 83 of the table is raised by means oi the lever 88 whim is pivotallvv supported on a cross-piece 89 secured to the legs for supporting other parts oi" the table. The end of the lever 88 is connected to a v 90. The arms of the V are removable over depending rods 91 but are yieldably held against stops 92 by means of the springs 98. The table 83 is raised until the cartons strike the surfaces of the mouth pieces 5-1 and further movement of the lever 88 is taken up by the springs 93, that is, the springs 93 permit further movement oi the lever without further movement of the cartons. The lever 88 is operated by the dog G5 as it passes over the sprocket wheel G7 located on the shaft 81. The dog pushes the end of the lever 88 down and raises the table 83 which is connected to the other end of the lever. The table 83 is held in this position while the cartons or boxes are being filled. A rod 911 is pivotally connected to the lever 88 and is moved down when the lever' is operated on by the dog. The rod 94C is pulled over by the spring 95 so as to cause a lug 96 formed on the rod 941 to engage with the edge of an L 97 located on a bracket 98 supported on the strip 89. Return movement of the lever 88 is thus prevented and consequently the table top 83 is held up until the rod 94 is released.

The rod 94; is connected to the rod` 99 which is in turn connected to a rod 100. The rod 100 is pivoted to a bar 101 which is also secured to the legs of a part of the table When the rod 94 is moved so as to engage the lug 96 with a part oit the "frame of the table, the upper end 03: the rod 100 moves into the path of the dog 65 and toward the other sprocket wheel 67. `When therefore the dog 65 strikes the rod 100 the rod 9-1 disengages itself and t-he lever 88 is released which permits the table top 83 to lower. This is accomplished, oi" course, when the boxes have been lilled and are ready to be shifted from beneath the cylinders.

During the lling of the boxes, the boxes are shaken or jarred so as to prevent sticking of the material and insure settling olI the material in the boxes or containers. In the form of the invention shown the table top on which the containers rest is jarred by means of the rapper 102l which is supported on a bell crank lever 103. The hell crank lever 103 is pivotall)7 connecled to the cross-bar 89. il. sprir (Y 104- is connected to the lever 103 so as to iaise the rapper 102 with the upward movement ot the table top 83 when the table top is raised b v the operation oi"- the lever 88. The springf lOltends to keep the rapper 102 against the under side ol the tabletop 83. A rod 105 is connected to the end oit the lever 103 ond a pluralitf,7 ot reds 106 are connected to the rod 105. The rods 100 are pivoted on the bar 101 and t ie. upoer ends of the rods 100 are located in the pa'h of movement ot the dog` so that during the return movement of the dog 65 and w e the cartone are being lled the deg will uecesstullvstrike the upper ends oit the rod 106 und through the rod 105 lower the rapper 'l Y A02 from the table top 83. lhen the flo-r releases each o l? the rods 106 the spring,` 101- ivi l roll 'the rapper 10ft against the table top @Il with a ouicl moi ient which will jar the table top and consequent-lv jar the cartons located ou the table top. This will shake down the materiel into the containers.

third part 107 of the table top may also be provided for receiving the lilled cartons` which will be delivered to the table top 10T when the dog G5 moves a lot ot einpt)Y coutainers beneath the cylinders 29.

will thus be seen that the operation ot the dog G5 is to move the carr ige 01 so as to push empty containers beneath the cylinders 529 bv pressingr a nst the upper pin 0l; ot the Carr .ge Gl. until the dopA passes over jthe sprocket wheel GT located on the l-hatt C. 'it then strikes the end ot' the lever 98 to raise the boxes thus shit ed beneath the cvlinders 29 and then is carried down and e in sequence the ends ot the rofls 10o whicl causes the rapper 102 to jar the cari tons u'itil it strikes line rod 400 which rei le fer 88 and permits the cartons o be lowered iii-oni the ends oaf the cylinders ln the meantime it has caused the return of the carriage (il by pressure against the lower pin (il and duringl the return ol' the arriage the reciprocating member 58 has assed to its initial position but has passed o that position underneath the. table top bv eason ot the operation ol the latch 09 which closes the narrow portion of' the slot 57. The dog G5 again engages the upper pin (f1-l of the carriage G1 and carries the reciproeating member 58 'forward to shift an additional lot of boxes beneath thel cylinder 59 and push those that have been filled onto the third part ot the table top 107.

Having thus l claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is,-

1. ln an automatic machine for filling containers, a table having a movable top-part, means located. above the said part 'for didescribed in v invention, what lll) recting the material to the containers, a reciprocatory member for moving the containers along the table, means for operating the reciprocatory member and raising the table top part to raise the containers to the said means :for directing the material to the continers, means for causing the reciprocatory member to return belen7 the table top.

2. In an automatic machine for filling containers, means for directing the material to the containers, a plate for supporting the containers, a reciprocatory member for moving the containers beneath the means for directing the material to the containers and eX- tending above the plate, a latch for engaging the reciprocatory member and causing it to pass below the plate on its return movement from the means for directing the material to the containers, a carriage connected to the reciprocatory member, a belt, a dog connected to the belt for engaging the carriage to first move it in one direction and then to return the carriage.

3. In an automatic machine t'or filling containers, a table having a movable top part, means located above the said part for directing the material to the containers, a reciprocatory member for moving the containers along the table, means for operating the reciprocatory member and raising the table top part to raise the containers to the said means for directing the material to the containers, a tapper for striking the under side of the said part for shaking the material down in the containersJ means for operating the said tapper.

4. In an automatic machine for iilling containers, a means for directing the material to the containers, a table top part for supporting the containers beneath the means for directing the material to the containers, a means ilor raising the table top part to raise the containers to the means for directing the material to the containers, a tapper for jarring the containers `While being filled, a reciprocatory member for shifting the containers onto the table top part, a reciprocating dog for operating the reciprocatory member and for raising the table top part and for operating the tapper.

5. In an automatic machine for filling containers, a means for directing the material to the containers, a table top part for supporting the containers beneath the means for directing the material to the containers, a means for raising the table top part to raise the containers to the means for directing the material to the containers, a tapper iter jarring the containers while being iilled, a reciprocatory member for shifting the con tainers onto the table top part, a dog for operating the reciprocatory member and for raising the table top part and for operating the tapper, a belt connected to the dog for operating the dog.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto signed my name to this specification.

LOUIS H. HARTMAN. 

